Page 5 of Marginally Yours
I let out a quiet laugh because she's asked me if I liked it about 743 times in the last 12 hours, but I'm trying really hard not to make her anxious.
Well,moreanxious, anyway.
"Yeah, for sure," I reassure her. "I really liked it. I'm excited for the next one too. I bet I'll finish it tonight." I had already looked it up and, despite being a fan favorite, it's even shorter than thefirst.
"Oh, definitely. I can't wait to hear what you think!" Her smile is genuine, and I don't know why I'm surprised to find that she actually wants to hear my opinions. No one even lets me talk about books, let alone gets excited about it.
We chat for a while about the next book, and then another series we both love. She occasionally looks up and down the street through the front window, and her eyes dart to the door every time the bell chimes, but I chalk it up to being new in town and nervous. She's passionate about reading, and it's obvious that she especially loves books about strong women who save the day on their own in any genre. She’s especially drawn to books featuring intelligent women who outwit their opponents.
As we talk, I can feel something forming in the back of my brain. An extraordinary woman who thinks she’s nothing more than ordinary. She finds out what she’s capable of through a series of trials and finally learns that she’s been someone important all along.
It's just the tiniest trickle of inspiration, but the familiarity of it, mixed with the excellent company, has me grinning like a fool.
We finish our coffee and reluctantly part ways. I promise to text her live updates while I read tonight, and she’s already plotting out my TBR list.
We repeat this process at least once a week for the next few weeks. I stop by the bookstore for our afternoon coffee dates, she sends me on my way with a new book or two, and then we spend the evening texting. I’ve noticed that she’s a little closed off about her personal life, but she’s more than happy to go on about books. Anything I’ve read, she’s also read and has an opinion about. She’s been slipping up lately, though. She’ll start to share something and then cut herself off. I don’t want to pry, but I wish she’d open up more.
Sometimes, I bring my notebook with me to work and jotdown some ideas for my story. It’s mostly just stray thoughts and a basic outline at this point, but it’s something. I haven’t told her about it yet, but I will. Eventually.
Today has been a routine coffee date day. We’re wrapping up our conversation so I can head to work when an idea hits me. So far, we’ve only hung out at the bookstore. I’m not complaining, but I’d like to see her outside of my uniform and without having to keep an eye on the clock the whole time.
"Hey, do you work Saturday?" I ask. She shakes her head, and I take it as a sign from whatever patron saint watches over anxiety-riddled nerds. "Do you maybe want to go out with me that night? There's this place in the next town over where you can get really good food, but it's also got this cool little arcade in it." She doesn't answer me right away, and the panic starts to settle in. "Only if you want to, though. It's just a fun place, and we can talk about books when you're not on the clock and..."
I'm rendered fully mute the second she reaches across the table and grabs my hand. In the weeks that we’ve been hanging out, this is the first time she’s touched me on purpose.
My eyes drift back to her face, and she's got one side of her mouth pulled up in a mischievous smirk. She knows I’m about to word vomit, and she’s having fun watching me squirm before letting me down easily. There's no way she isn't laughing at me in her head.
"Sounds fun," she says finally, cutting off the Self Deprecation Express barreling through my brain. She still sounds a little wary about it, but she gives my thumb a tiny squeeze and I decide not to question it.
"I don't drive, though. Would you be okay with picking me up? My apartment is right up past the square." She tilts her head toward the little topiary display up the street, and I know there's a row of apartments behind it. There are only two apartment complexes in town, and the other is an absoluteshithole, so I assumed it was that one. I consider making a lame joke about her living in the topiaries, but it hits me that she's comfortable enough to both tell me where she lives and let me drive her, so I decide to keep it to myself.
This time, anyway.
"Yeah, absolutely," I tell her, like I'm not about to spend all day Saturday detailing my car now. "Text me your unit number. I'll come get you at 6?" She nods, her smile so wide it's almost touching her ears. I glance at the clock again and swear. "Ok, cool. I really do have to get going now though, or I'm gonna end up getting written up. Or beat up, probably by John's wife, if I make him late getting home again." We both chuckle at that, and she leads me up to the register.
With two new books in hand, I'm sliding into my car when I glance at the front window. Callie is standing in the corner watching me. When she realizes she's been caught, I can see her cheeks flush from the sidewalk. She gives me a sheepish smirk but doesn't move until I'm gone.
By the time I pull into the parking lot, I've got a new text.
Don't mind me, just enjoying the view.
Fuck.
I walk into work with a few minutes to spare, and John gives me a silent nod of approval as he leaves. I barely notice him, my brain still processing the text.Don't mind me, just enjoying the view.Excuse me? Is she enjoying my suffering, or just trying to put me into an early grave? How do I even respond to that without sounding like a creep?
Although, she was the one staring at my ass through the window.
I cycle a few responses through my head before settling on one.
Thanks, I'll be here all week. Happy to be of service.
I follow it up with a gif of a guy in a tux bowing on stage and I'm rewarded with a laughing emoji. A few minutes later another message arrives.
We just got a huge shipment full of used books so I'll be sorting those for the rest of the night. Please please please still send me your thoughts on the book. Just wanted to let you know that I might be too busy to respond right away.
No problem, do your thing. I'll talk to you when you’re free.
That gives me some time to blow through these books, although I'd rather be talking to her while I do it. The first is a hardcover, another installment in the dragon series that she got me hooked on. The second is a small paperback that I've never heard of, but I recognize the author. He's a fantasy legend, and he's known for writing a series with a million different semi-standalone books that all connect in little ways in the end. It's a little beat up on the edges, but otherwise in good condition.
